| Pit bull bans are spreading too fast nowadays. The | | | | occurrences is what happened to a middle aged |
| clamor for pit bull bans from municipalities and local | | | | woman in Elizabeth, Colorado, in November of 2003. |
| communities has been growing for years. As a result | | | | She was outside her barn tending to her horses |
| there has been a separate group of people who are | | | | when a pack of three pit bulls -- owned by a |
| all yes to pit bull bans and another group who give | | | | neighbor -- came upon her. These pit bulls ended up |
| all-out support to their pit bulls. | | | | attacking her relentlessly for 45 minutes until she was |
| There is a growing chorus of people who are calling | | | | dead. |
| for a complete ban on pit bull ownership. These | | | | More shocking still was the fact that these dogs had |
| people contend that pit bulls inherently are a | | | | attacked before. This is of course not a separate |
| dangerous breed. At the same time, there are still | | | | happening. |
| supportive pit bull owners who cling to the idea that | | | | The Position of Pit Bull Owners |
| not all pit bulls are dangerous. | | | | As with any controversy, there are two sides to the |
| The Nature of Pit Bulls | | | | pit bill debate. Pit bull owners and supporters maintain |
| There are some biological factors associated with pit | | | | that they are lovable and loving dogs. Once tamed |
| bulls that must be kept in mind when trying to | | | | and trained properly, pit bulls can show |
| analyze the debate regarding whether or not pit bulls | | | | non-aggressive behaviors. In fact, pit bull owners |
| should be banned. First of all, pit bulls have jaws that | | | | have put up a strong fight on many fronts -- publicly, |
| are qualitatively different from the jaws of other | | | | in the courts -- to be able to maintain their pets. |
| breeds of dogs. Contrary to the common belief that | | | | These owners and supporters really do seem to be |
| pit bulls have jaws similar to that of a dog, experts | | | | pulling out all of the stops to defend what they |
| say that it is actually more related to the jaws of a | | | | consider their right to continue to own the breed of |
| crocodile. | | | | dog of their choice, a breed of dog that they |
| The jaws of a pit bull are exceptionally strong. Also, it | | | | maintain is not more dangerous than any other. (Of |
| was known that the anatomy of a pit bull jaw is | | | | course, many other people maintain that there is |
| constructed in such a way that once its prey is | | | | mounting evidence to the contrary.) |
| locked it will just remain helpless in that position. It | | | | The Final Analysis |
| nearly is impossible to pry a pit bull's jaw open once it | | | | When all is said and done, public safety necessarily |
| has clamped down on a target. | | | | needs to come first. Therefore, the debate in regard |
| Beyond the manner in which the jaw is "constructed" | | | | to whether or not people should be permitted to |
| many experts also argue that pit bulls by nature are | | | | own pit bulls has to revolve around how the public |
| violent dogs. Much in the same way that a lion or | | | | can best be kept safe in the most prudent and |
| tiger biologically is dangerous so is the pit bull. | | | | appropriate manner. |
| Actual Case Studies Involving Pit Bulls | | | | Whether it is nurture or nature, the sad reality is that |
| There is an ever growing list of instances in which pit | | | | many innocent people continue to be attacked and |
| bulls have attacked human beings -- seriously injuring | | | | even killed by pit bulls on a regular basis. |
| them or even killing them. Typical of these | | | | |